Fully molded gas mask facepiece



Oct- 3 1944- J. F. BATTLEY ETAL 2,359,506

FULLY MOLDED eAs MASK FACEPIECE Filed Sept. 26, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 1llll- Willi/7579110657656:

iis-lll! l Inventors JOSEPH F. BATTLEY DALLAS O. BURGER RANDOLPH MONROOC' 3, 1944 J. F. BATTLEY ETAL 2,359,506

FULLY MOLDED GAS MASK FACEPIECE Filed Sept. 26, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Invenfars JOSEPH F. BATTLl-:Y l

DALLAs o. BURGER RANDOLPH MoNRo MLJQMWML JJM Attorneys 0d 3, 1944. J. F.BATTLEY :TAL

FULLY MOLDED GAS MASK FACEPIECE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 26, 1942Invenfors JOSEPH F. a'ATTLEY VDALLAS o. BURGER RANDOLPH MoNRo MMM-@MWPatented Oct. 3, 1944 UNiTED STATES PATENT oFEicE FULLY MOLDED GAS MASKFACEPIECE Joseph F. Battley, United States Army, Dallas 0. Burger,Burbank, Calif., and Randolph Monto, Mountain, Md., assignors to theSecretary of War oi.' the United States of America, as trusteeApplication September 26, 1942, Serial No. 459,802

t 2 Claims. (Cl. 12S-141) (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, asamended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) The invention described hereinmay be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmentalpurposes, without the payment to us of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to gas masks and an object of the invention is toimprove generally upon gas masks as now known and used.

Among the objects of the invention are:

To increase the upward and downward angles of l vision of the wearer; toprovide adequate drainage for the facepiece; to provide an outlet valveand guard therefor, each characterized by simplicity of construction andeiciency of function; to provide a, head harness of maximum comfort; tomaterially improve upon the manner of securing the straps of the headharness to the lfacepiece; to materially improve upon the gas sealbetween the facepiece and the face of the wearer; to insure against theobjectionable turning inward of the edge of the facepiece against theface of the wearer incidental to the donning of the facepiece; topresent a gas mask which as a complete unity will oifer little if anyinterference with the proper use of the rifle or similar piece offirearms and to provide a facepiece of such structural characteristicsthat it may be vulcanized in a mold materially less complicated than themold as is now generally required.

As will be appreciated as the description proceeds, the variouscomponents of the-mask are so improved upon by the teachings of thisinvention that they combine to present a complete gas mask facepiecemeeting all the exacting requirements of a gas mask that would be freeof those objections characterizing prior gas masks and as known to thoseexperienced in this art.

The invention, together with its objects and advantages, will be bestunderstood from a study of the following description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a front view of a gas mask embodying the features of thisinvention.

Figure 2 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially on the line2--2 of Figure 4.

Figure3 is a fragmentary detailed View, part in section and part inelevation, and taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 4.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the gas mask with certain partsbroken away and other parts shown in section.

Figure 5 is a. fragmentary elevational view showing one manner ofstitching the several straps of the harness together.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the eyepieceassembly.

Figure 8 is a detailed sectional view showing I a lens as initiallypositioned within the rim or flange forming part of an eyepiece of themask. Figure 9 is a view somewhat similar to Figure 8 but showing thelens in final and secured position.

Figure 10 is a sectional view through the assembled exhalation valve andguard therefor.

Figure 11 is a transverse .sectional view through a valve seat and withthe associated guard shown by broken lines.

Figure l2 is a perspective view of an exhalation valve forming a part ofthe invention.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary sectional view somewhat similar to Figure 8and illustrating a slightly modied .form of eyepiece flange or rim.Referring more in 'detail to the drawings, 5

` indicates generally the facepiece of the gas mask.

with the facepiece.

This facepiece may -be made of rubber or similar material molded or castin one piece, and shaped to the contour of the humanface. Asillustrated, it extends beneath the chin, up the sides of the face andacross the forehead; standing away from the nose and mouth as best seenin FigureA 4, with the inlet for inspired air positioned just belowthemouth of the wearer.

The aforementioned inlet, indicated by the reference numeral 6, is inthe form of a cylindrical downwardly extending nipple integral Thisinlet at its inner end merges with a pair of air passages 'i-l thatextend upwardly from the inlet 6 and at opposite sides of exhalationchamber 8 to terminate suring the wearer of a clear vision.

The manner of providing the facepiece with the aforementioned air ducts1-1 may be either by molding the air ducts with their front, sides andrear Walls integral with they body of the faceblank,l or, andpreferably, only the front and side walls may be molded integral withthe body of the faceblank, and the rear walls cemented or vulcanizedsubsequently in place. In this connection it will be noted that as theseams around the rear walls are already within the confines of thefacepiece, a leak in a seam will not anect the gastight integrity of thefacepiece assembly.

y at the ends-thereof opening in the vicinity of the eyepieces 9 areflared to cause the air issuing therefrom to eectively spread over thelenses.

vAlso at these discharge ends the ducts l are curved to conform to thecurvature of the eyepieces.

It may be observed that due to the width and curvature of the outletends of the air ducts as above explained there is a, tendency of thetubes to collapse incidental to the application of eyerings, hereinaftermore fully referred to, in completing the assembly of the eyepieces.This tendency of the tubes to collapse may be effectively prevented bymolding the material from which the tubes are made relatively thicker inthe middle portions than at the sides thereof.

Heretofore it has been the practice to make the wall rimming eacheyepiece port in the form of a rubber bead integral with the facepieceand a groove in the bead to receive the edge of the lens. At theJunction of the bead and facepiece a recess is presented to receive amarginal edge of the metal binder or retaining ring. Such a' structureas just described is objectionable because it requires a rathercomplicated mold for vulcanizing a faceblank so equipped. In accordancewith this invention the wall II rimming each eye-port I2projects'outwardly from the body of the facepiece, is substantially ofthe same thickness as the facepiece body, and is free of all grooves andundercuts as shown in Figure 8. Positioned within the connes of the wallII is the lens or other transparency I0. In the present invention eachlens issubstantially of symmetrical triangular edge contour havingrounded corners and of cylindrical curvature.v

The lens is made larger than the port so that when positioned within theconfines of the port wall II as shown in Figure 8 the wall II will bestretched as shown in Figure 9 and in a manner to form` behind the lensI a continuous groove llVhen in Athe position shown in Figure 9 the lensIl! is finally securedby resorting to a metal binder ring I4 that ntsover the wall II as shown.

As shown in Figure 6 the ring Il at one edge is provided with an endlessseries of slits in a manner to form an endless series of spring fingersI that may be readily crimped into position and accommodated within thegroove I3 as illustrated. 'I'hus it will be seen that the ring may bereadily applied in completing the eye- By forming the walls II in themanner above explained, rapid manufacture of the facepiece is materiallyfacilitated as the mold for casting the facepiece is simplified over thetype of mold heretofore required.

Also, the assembly and construction lends itself to the use of lensesthat are symmetrical and therefore interchangeable, and the lenses beingelongated vertically, restriction of the wearers upward and downwardvision is materially minimized.

A As an alternate form of construction, the wall rimming each eye-portmay, as shown in Figure 13, be provided at its free edge with anintegral abutment f iange II2; the referred to wall being designated inthis figure by the reference character III.

In this alternate form of wall structure the flange II2 forms anabutment against which the lens is disposed incidental to naipositioning of the lens. This alternate construction possesses all' ofthe advantages of the wall structure shown ixe Figures 8 and 9 and ashereinabove enumera d.

The facepiece i. in the region of the exhalation chamber l is providedwith an exhalation port I6 rimmed by an outwardly projecting wall orflange Il.

For the port I6 there is provided an exhalation valve of the type shownto advantage in Figure 12. The type of exhalation valve I8 hereinillustrated is more or less well known to those experienced in this artand is very similar to that disclosedV in the patent to Max Yablick, No.1,680,757, dated August 14, 1928. The exhalation valve Il of thisinvention is, however, constructed with a. departure from that shown inthe aforementioned patent by having the tubular stem Il thereofmaterially greater in length than heretofore as and for a purposehereinafter made manifest.

Alsoin accordance with this invention there is provided for the valve I8a novel form of valve seat 20 having a valve guard 2I associatedtherewith.

The seat 42l is inthe form of a substantially flat plate 22 of metal.composition material, or any other suitable material, and is providedwith a suitably positioned opening 23 rimmed by a tubular neck 2l thatextends laterally from one side of the plate 22 and is accommodatedwithin the confines of the port wall Il as shown in Figure The valve Ilis associated with 'the seat 20 by passing the stem I9 of the valvethrough the neel:y 24 andv then doubling back the free end portion ofthe stem I9 onto the neck 24 as clearly suggestedin Figure 10.

With the valve lstem I9 rthus associated with the neck 2l the exiblewall 25 of the valve I8 seats against the body plate 22. y

v'Ihe valve Il in seated position is effectively protected againstdamage through the medium .of the aforementioned guard member 2|.

The guard member 2l is inthe form of a sub stantially concavo-convexplate of metal, composition material, or any other suitable material andis perforated as at 26 as shown.

Guard plate 2 I for a portion of the length .thereof has a marginal edge21 that is trans- ,vesely curved to complement spring fingers 28provided at the marginal edgeof the body plate 22 of the valve seat 20.The 'lingers 28 may be arranged as found most advantageous butpreferably as shown, namely, with a pair of fingers 2l at opposite sideedges of the plate 22 adjacent the lower edge of the y.plate as viewedin Figure 10, and a third ilnger disposed at the upper end thisconnection it will be noted that the exposed part of the valve I8embodies the openings or slits 23; these openings or ports being formedby the Walls 25 and 25A of the valve I8 being joinedl at their edgesexcept at the aforementioned openings 29, and as more fully described inthe aforesaid Patent No. 1,680,757.

In'addition to effectively protecting the valve I3 against distortionduring storage or injury in service, the guard plate is perforated asshown and described, to facilitate the transmission of the voice of thewearer through the valve.y In

this connection it may be observed that with a valve of the type hereinshown and described, the sounds produced within the mask will cause thearea of the valve wall 25A alignedwiththe stem I3 to vibrate and therebyamplify the sounds to a material extent and render audible sounds whichotherwise could not be readily heard. It will thus be seen that the useofthe guard 2l will in no wise detract from the sound amplifyingqualities of this type of flutter valve.

astuce on the straps that may tend to tear the stitch It will also benoted that the guard plate 2| is characterized by an .absence of sharpedges or corners, the presence of which are objectionable as having atendency to injure the hands of the wearer especially while firing arie.

The unitary exhalation valve, seat, and guard assembly is readilysecured in position on the gas m'ask by inserting the valve-stem encasedneck 23 of the valve seat into the confines of the annular port wall I1.The wall I1 is then contracted about the neck 24 by vmaking two completeturns of wire around the port wall I1 and securing the ends of the wireby twisting such ends together as suggested in Figure 4; the twistedends of the `wire being pressed into place parallel to the coil as shownin saidgure. The wire 33 is then concealed by a band 3l of suitablematerial.

The harness by which the facepiece is maintained on the face of the useris fragmentarily illustrated, and in the present instance consists ofthree elastic straps that cross one another at the back of the usershead as suggested in Figure 5.

The harness straps consist of two straps 32, 32 that at one endareconnected at spaced intervals to the facepiece at the top of thelatter; cross one another intermediate their respective ends, and at theback of the head (see Figure 5) and at the opposite or lo-wer ends aresecured to the side of the facepiece adjacent the lower or chin portionof the latter.

'I'he third harness strap, 33, extends, at an angle to the horizontal,from one side to the opposite side of the facepiece and is secured atits respective opposite ends to the facepiece above the points ofattachment of the lower ends of straps 32, 32 with the facepiece asshown in Figure 4.

As shown in Figure 5 strap 33 crosses straps 32 at points spaceddownwardly from the point of intersection of the latter straps. Wherethe straps cross they are stitched together; straps 32, 32 being securedto one another by stitching 34, and respectively secured to strap 33 bystitching 35, 35.

While substantially diamond shaped stitching is illustrated, circularstitching may be resorted to; advantages of the latter pattern ofstitching being the elimination of orientation of the harness under theneedle of the sewing machine in accomplishing the stitching, and theresistance oered by three or more stitches to any strains Identicalstitching patterns, regardless ofthe selected pattern, should be used assuch per- .mits of the advantageous employment of an automatic sewingmachine to the better accomthe edges of the facepiece and the face ofthe wearer gas-tight, and the provision of such a seal with minimumdiscomfort to the user.

In order to obtain a comfortable, gas-tight seal between the edges ofthe facepiece and the face of the wearer, the material of the facepieceat requisite places near the edges is thickened to afford integral,outwardly protruding bosses 36, 31. The lower ends of harness straps 32are secured to the facepiece at thebosses 36, and the respectiveppposite ends of strap 33 are secured to the facepiece at the bosses 31through the medium of rivets 38.

When the gas mask is in position on the user and tension is applied tothe straps 32, 32, and 33, those portions of the facepiece in theregions of the bosses 36, 31 will be somewhat depressed or indented atthe temple and cheek portions of the wearer. As a consequence thefacepiece adapts itself to any facial contour and forms therewith atoxic gas and dust excluding seal.

In those instances where, as here, recourse is had to rivets forfastening the harness straps to the facepiece, prior practice was tomake use of fabric reinforcements to prevent the rivets from pullingout. However, such reinforcement is unnecessary by vreason of the typeof rivet here employed, and characterized, as it is, by a concavoconvexhead embodying an integral ange 39 and a cap plate 43 the-edge of whichis crimped over the edge of the flange as shown in Figures 2 and 3. I

The diameter of the rivet head is 'such as to have considerable surfacecontact with the material of the facepiece, and when the rivet is drivenhome the head, as shown in Figure 2, is countersunk. As a consequencethe material of the facepiece, such as for example, soft, pliablerubber, within the area of the rivet head is so confined by the latterthat it is pressed or crowded toward the shank of the rivet and therivet head grips the rubber in a manner to resist normal strain tendingto dislodge the rivet.

As shown the rivet ispassed through the material of the facepiece'fromthe inner to the outer side of the latter, and the secured endof theharness strap is clamped between the boss and a washer 4i having acountersink receiving the upset end of the rivet shank.

It will also be noted that by having the rivet head countersunk orrecessed into the material of the facepiece (Figure 2) the rivet isprevented from pressing against the face of the wearer.

the undersides of the tabs as shown in Figure 3.

'I'he securing of the harness straps to the facepiece either adjacent tothe edges of the facepiece or, as `lust described, to tabs extendingfrom such edges is objectionable because by reason thereof the edges ofthe facepiece or of the tabs, as the case may be, are caused to presspainfully against the head of thewearer. This objection is eliminated inthe present instance by resort to substantially L -shapedwashers Il `forthe rivets 43. By resort to such washers arms l5 thereof overlie thefree terminal edges of the tabs to substantially align the harnessstraps 32, 32, with the tabs as shown in Figure 3. As a consequence anytendency of the tabs 42 to turn inwardlyn and press against the foreheadis effectively provided against` The edge of the facepiece is restrainedfrom being turned inwardly so asl to hamper the rapid donning of themask by the provision of integral loops 48 at the edges of the facepieceand through which the .ends of the harness straps secured to the sidesof the facepiece are trained (see Figures 2 and 4).

From the foregoing it will be appreciated by those experienced in thisart that the various Y components of the mask are so improved upon as tocombine in presenting a gas mask having good balance, improvedseal-forming contact with the face of the user without irritation orcausing discomflture, effective protection for the exhalation valvewithout detracting from the sound transmitting qualities of the -latteror hampering access thereto for thawing or other purposes, affording awider range of vision to the wearer, less likely to interfere with orhamper normal or required movements of the wearer in the use offirearms, and lending itself to greater mass production by requiring amold considerably simplified over molds required in the productionofprior art gas masks.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In combination with a gas mask, an outlet valve comprising, a valveseat, a flutter valve in the form of a flattened bag of pliable materialof greater area than said valve seat with a portion thereof extendingbeyond said valve seat, said flutter valve being slitted along the edgeof said extending portion, a valve guardsupported. from and in front ofsaid valve seat and substantially covering the tlat projected area ofsaid flutter valve, the portion of said valve guard covering saidextending portion of the flutter valve being separated therefrom so asto thereby make said extending portion of said flutter valve free andaccessible to be held between the thumb and fingers of the wearer of thegas mask.

2. In combination 'with a gas mask, an outlet valve comprising, a valveseat in the form of a flat plate with a neck extending therefrom, aflutter valve engaging said valve seat and in the form of a flattenedbag of pliable material of greater area than the fiat plate portion ofsaid valve seat so that a portion thereof extends beyond said valveseat, said flutter valve being slitted along the edge of said extendingportion and having an integral stem extending from the rear wall thereofof a length in excess of the length of said neck of said valve seat andadapted to be passed axially through said neck and then doubled backupon said neck for securing the assembly of said valve seat and fluttervalve, a valve guard detachably mounted on and in front of said valveseat and substantially covering the fiat projected area of said flutterva1vethe por-` tion of said valve guard covering said extending portionof the flutter valve being `separated therefrom so as to thereby makesaid extending portion of said flutter valve free and accessible to beheld between the thumb and ngers of the wearer of the gas mask.

JOSEPH F. BATTLEY. DALLAS O. BURGER. RANDOLPH MONRO.

